A way out...leaving the gang life
Chief Danny Smyth
Street gangs are a real concern in our community. More specifically, the violence and criminal activity associated with street gangs impact the safety of our community. The WPS devotes a lot of investigative time and effort into disrupting gang activity. It seems every week we publish media releases detailing the crimes and the criminal charges associated with street gangs. Enforcement is a necessary component of any strategy that combats gangs, but it is not the only component. Often overlooked are the people and programs that proactively help those wanting to leave gang-life.
This Tried and True article informs of the efforts of some of the many people who devote a lot of their time helping gang members who want to put gang-life behind.
Cst. Michelle De Groot is the WPS Gang Prevention Coordinator. Get a feel for the work she is involved in her article below.
Mitch Bourbonniere is a man who has developed a lot of deserved respect in our community. He is an educator, community activist, and founder of Ogijiita Pimatswin Kinamatwin (OPK). He has helped countless young people make positive changes in their lives.
Vinnie Lillie is an outreach worker with the Downtown Community Safety partnerships. He has lived the experience of leaving gangs, and now concentrates his efforts in helping youth do the same.
Creating awareness, offering hope
Gang prevention coordinator, community partners offer a path out of gang life
Cst. Michelle De Groot
Gang Prevention Coordinator
Leaving gang-life is not easy. In fact, it can be quite dangerous.
John (not his real name) found himself trapped in gang life. His mother was beside herself with worry – the changes in behaviour, and attitude were evident to those who loved this 16-year old. But, no one knew how to help him.
This teen thought he found a more glamourous and perhaps profitable lifestyle as part of one of Winnipeg’s many street gangs. He was taking some serious risks and was fast on his way to a life of crime and incarceration.
Upon reflection, he says now it sounded great … until he was right in the middle of it. And, once you're in, you're in. Getting out can result in a “beat down” or “jump out” and serious threats of violence. Sometimes that thought means kids like John just stay in. They feel they have no options.
That is where my role comes in. As the Winnipeg Police Service Gang Prevention Co-ordinator I am a resource to parents like John’s – and to youth like John himself – who want out and need help.
We were able to help John and his family quickly and quietly relocate. We were able to make connections with the school system to ensure there was a plan to get him back into school and help his siblings safely transition to the new safer location.
We were able to connect John with community resources like Action Therapy that can provide that all-important community connection and support. They even helped him find employment.
We were able to wrap the family in ongoing support. In fact, his mother and I are still in regular contact.
We are all working together to build this young guy up and set a path for a more positive future.
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John has hope, his mom has hope and I have hope he’s going to be okay. It’s kids like John that drew me to this position.
Working with John and seeing his success gives me encouragement that this program can be successful with the right support and community involvement. Although I know that there will be many young people we will be unsuccessful in reaching, we need to keep trying.
I have been working as the Gang Prevention Coordinator in the Guns and Gangs Unit since June of 2021. This role within the police service is a unique position that has been quite different from my previous police work.
There has been a significant increase in gang-related issues in schools across Winnipeg. Although gang issues are predominant in some city areas, the reality is gangs are an issue in every corner of our community.
The increasing number of gangs has impacted today's youth and is observed in schools. Some youth have already been exposed to gang life in their own homes with family members being involved. Some of the exposed youth imitate the behaviours as they look up to what they perceive as gang life. The youth have, and continue to be impacted to the point that we see them having to prove themselves with violent behaviour and often carrying weapons to school for protection.
As a result, in September of 2021, I started completing presentations tailored to grade 7, 8, and 9 students in the schools across Winnipeg. Since then, more than 150 presentations have been completed on gang prevention to students.
Our team presentation includes myself giving a police perspective on what gang life is actually like, the consequences of choosing that lifestyle, and some of the resources available to get someone out of gang life.
I elaborate by talking about violence in schools and the impact a criminal record can have on the youth's future. I am accompanied by Vincent Lillie, a male with lived experience.
Vinnie is an ex Manitoba Warrior and Native Syndicate member who spent over ten years going in and out of Stony Mountain. He opens up to the youth with his impactful story. Vinnie related how his troubled upbringing of poverty and how dysfunctional child rearing let him hold onto a lot of anger. Vinnie speaks about his school life, in which he expressed his rage through violence and bullying. This led him to hang out with the wrong group of people, where, unfortunately, he found acceptance which ultimately led him to gang life and a life of crime and addiction. Vincent struggled with multiple barriers that kept him in gang life but eventually, he was able to seek help.
He has now been sober for three and a half years and works for the Downtown Community Safety Partnerships where he helps the community he once destroyed. His story teaches the youth what gang life is really like and gives an account of hope and healing. These presentations have been very effective as many students tell Vinnie and me about how gang life has impacted them. It is truly amazing to see how invested the students are during our presentations, and this is reflected by the questions and follow-up initiated by the youth.
The presentations allow us to reach many young people and share resourceful information with school staff. Vinnie and I truly want to help and connect with the community in this fashion opens the door to longer-term and meaningful relationship building with some amazing kids who just need a little support, guidance, and mentorship.
Another aspect of my position as the Gang Prevention Coordinator is working with high-risk youth. I receive referrals from a multitude of sources such as the school resource officers, counsellors, social workers, Child & Family Services, and various other organizations.
Each individual that is referred to the program has various issues which can range from severe depression, anger issues, broken families, no support systems, etc. These underlying issues affect the youth's school attendance, performance, and social interactions, and often they bring violent behavior into the school.
When receiving a referral, I initially meet with the referring person where we discuss the gang prevention program and see if we feel it would be a good fit for the youth.
Then I meet with the youth in question and his/her family or guardian and try to identify social, emotional, and health needs to develop an action plan. This is done with the goal of improving the behaviors and the emotional well-being of the youth while forging a meaningful relationship. It is imperative to have the youth develop a level of trust with myself in order to obtain the laid-out goals.
Just this morning before sitting down to write this, I met with a new referral. We went for a workout. We didn't get into anything heavy – just started the conversation, building trust in one another and burning off some of those COVID calories.
This young person has been surrounded by chaotic circumstances that resulted in him living a transient lifestyle. All too often these kids are simply looking for connections and belonging. Literally and figuratively they have been abandoned. When young people seek out these needs and connections, it's the gangs that fill the void. This is where I come in, I try and provide options, exits strategies, and legitimate lifestyle opportunities for individuals. I seek the help of outside agencies and stakeholders to assist.
We do not have all the answers, but Vinnie and I see the need and want to help.
We’ve been incredibly fortunate to make some amazing connections with other groups and organizations that share our vision for strong and safer communities for these kids.
For example, Mitch Bourbonniere and the grassroots programs he runs through Mama Bear Clan and OPK have been tremendous. More recently, we have teamed up with the Pan Am Boxing Club to provide a youth boxing program for young people. Through a generous donation by BDR Services Limited and the Winnipeg Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit, each participant is provided with a beginner boxing gear package to get them started.
Early feedback has been positive. The youth involved are loving it and their guardians have been very supportive and appreciative of the optimistic attitude and commitment from the WPS and supporting agencies.
It’s through actions, not words that we can help keep young people out of gang life.
We also work with young people and their family members wanting to get out of gang life. That can be a scary proposition for many, though not something the youth would ever admit. While many of these youth present as tough and indifferent, they are quite scared and want options.
Please know we’re here for them and we’re here for their families.
Gangs have such a detrimental impact on our community. Let’s come together and help these youth in need.
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